ESSEX – Taras Natyshak MPP Essex, issued the following statement in response to the announcement that TVO will decommission eight over-the-air transmitters on July 31, 2017:

“New Democrats are deeply concerned that Liberal government cuts to TV Ontario have resulted in this short-sighted decision to eliminate broadcast transmitters to eight Ontario communities.

“Ending over-the-air transmission of TV Ontario is unfair to families in these communities and will have a disproportionate impact on children and families outside of the GTA and particularly in my riding of Essex. “

“Children in Essex County deserve access to a free signal providing dynamic educational programming from our public broadcaster as much as children in Toronto do.

“Cutting transmitters will not only restrict free, public access, but it also ignores the cord-cutting trend that has seen many Ontarians return to OTA receivers.

“The Minister of Education must immediately consider the impact that the loss of educational programming will have on young Ontarians in Belleville, Chatham, Cloyne, Kitchener, London, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and Windsor/Essex.

“As Ontario’s educational broadcaster, TVO has contributed to a richer understanding of our province and our world reaching most regions in our province for generations. The announcement to go dark, except for an additional cable fee, outside of Toronto goes against the spirit and mandate of this unique institution.

“This move should be reversed immediately. The Government of Ontario has an obligation to provide universal access to the public broadcaster owned by the ALL Ontarians.”